A Prince and a Princess were still celebrating their
honeymoon. They were extremely happy; only one thought disturbed
them, and that was how to retain their present happiness. For
that reason they wished to own a talisman with which to protect
themselves against any unhappiness in their marriage.

Now, they had often been told about a man who
lived out in the forest, acclaimed by everybody for his wisdom
and known for his good advice in every need and difficulty. So
the Prince and Princess called upon him and told him about their
heart's desire. After the wise man had listened to them he
said, "Travel through every country in the world, and wherever
you meet a completely happily married couple, ask them for a
small piece of the linen they wear close to the body, and when
you receive this, you must always carry it on you. That is a sure
remedy!"

The Prince and the Princess rode forth, and on
their way they soon heard of a knight and his wife who were said
to be living the most happily married life. They went to the
knight's castle and asked him and his wife if their
marriage was truly as happy as was rumored.

"Yes, of course," was the answer, "with the one
exception that we have no children!"

Here then the talisman was not to be found, and
the Prince and Princess continued their journey in search of the
completely happily married couple.

As they traveled on, they came to a country
where they heard of an honest citizen who lived in perfect unity
and happiness with his wife. So to him they went, and asked if he
really was as happily married as people said.

"Yes, I am," answered the man. "My wife and I
live in perfect harmony; if only we didn't have so many
children, for they give us a lot of worries and sorrows!"

So neither with him was the talisman to be
found, and the Prince and the Princess continued their journey
through the country, always inquiring about happily married
couples; but none presented themselves.

One day, as they rode along fields and meadows,
they noticed a shepherd close by the road, cheerfully playing his
flute. Just then a woman carrying a child in her arm, and holding
a little boy by the hand, walked towards him. As soon as the
shepherd saw her, he greeted her and took the little child, whom
he kissed and caressed. The shepherd's dog ran to the boy,
licked his little hand, and barked and jumped with joy. In the
meantime the woman arranged a meal she had brought along, and
then said, "Father, come and eat now!" The man sat down and took
of the food, but the first bite he gave to the little boy, and
the second he divided between the boy and the dog. All this was
observed by the Prince and the Princess, who walked closer, and
spoke to them, saying, "You must be a truly happily married
couple."

"Yes, that we are," said the man. "God be
praised; no prince or princess could be happier than we are!"

"Now listen then," said the Prince. "Do us a
favor, and you shall never regret it. Give us a small piece of
the linen garment you wear close to your body!"

As he spoke, the shepherd and his wife looked
strangely at each other, and finally he said, "God knows we would
be only too happy to give you not only a small piece, but the
whole shirt, or undergarment, if we only had them, but we own not
as much as a rag!"

So the Prince and the Princess journeyed on,
their mission unaccomplished. Finally, their unsuccessful roaming
discouraged them, and they decided to return home. As they passed
the wise man's hut, they stopped by, related all their
travel experiences, and reproached him for giving them such poor
advice.

At that the wise man smiled and said, "Has your
trip really been all in vain? Are you not returning richer in
knowledge?"

"Yes," answered the Prince, "I have gained
this knowledge, that contentment is a rare gift on this
earth."

"And I have learned," said the Princess, "that
to be contented, one needs nothing more than simply - to be
contented!"

Whereupon the Prince took the Princess'
hand; they looked at each other with an expression of deepest
love. And the wise man blessed them and said, "In your own hearts
you have found the true talisman! Guard it carefully, and the
evil spirit of discontentment shall never in all eternity have
any power over you!"